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Student Wellness Centre

Navigating the News: Finding Strength in Shared Grief

Written by Student Wellness Outreach Team Volunteers Maha Siddique & Inaya Tariq

This article is to help students navigate the intricate and emotionally challenging journey of grief they might be experiencing with recent events. 

Processing global tragedies can be a difficult and isolating experience. However, when we confide in each other, we can share the weight of our grief and collectively process, heal, and learn together. By understanding the vital role that empathy and collective understanding can play, we can lean on one another to process difficult times together.  

Navigating the complexity of grief with others can help with processing intense emotions 

Grief brings along a plethora of complex, intense emotions that can be difficult to work through on your own. Sharing grief with a support system allows us to process intense emotions more effectively, provide comfort and understanding, and emphasize that we are not alone in our sorrow.  

Practicing healthy coping mechanisms 

Coping mechanisms allow grief to be navigated constructively amongst turbulent emotions, ensuring that distressing emotions do not build up. Coping strategies allow people to express their emotions and find comfort.  

Some healthy ways to cope with grief include: 

  • Exercising  
  • Journaling 
  • Attending professional counselling and support groups 
  • Surrounding yourself with a strong support system 
  • Allowing yourself to cry and feel your emotions  
  • Practicing relaxation and mindfulness techniques  
  • Think of grief cyclically, not linearly 

 Grief is meant to be shared, not endured in isolation

Grief is an intrinsic human experience that is not meant to be taken on by individuals in isolation. The power of collective mourning and understanding cannot be understated and provides comfort and solace in difficult times. Grief is a vulnerable topic and can be difficult to begin speaking about, but it is a topic that is often welcomed and on people’s minds. It can be hard sometimes to bring up difficult topics with friends. Be the one that initiates conversations by saying, “I’m here to listen, share, and support.” Together, when we distribute the grief amongst ourselves, it reinforces that no one is responsible for holding grief on their own.  

Information sharing can help us have valuable discussions

By processing global tragedies within groups, we can create opportunities for valuable discussions, sharing with one another resources to help those individuals who were affected. When we lean on one another to process worldwide calamities together, we create spaces that encourage meaningful discussions that can serve as a catalyst for positive change. 

Preventing desensitization of the world around us

Processing tragedies together can help us avoid becoming numb to the violence we see in the media. Preventing desensitization is important because it reminds us how important it is to advocate for others in vulnerable positions. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with grief, please remember to be kind to yourself and others. Remember, grief manifests uniquely in everyone. There is no prescribed path for navigating through global violence and tragedy. Extend kindness and compassion whenever possible.

For extra support, please see the resources below: 

Counselling at the Student Wellness Centre 

  • You can book your appointment by calling 905-525-9140 x 27700 or visiting reception at the Peter George Centre for Living and Learning (210/201). Check out our drop in hours here.

MSU Student Assistance Program (SAP)

  • 24/7 through multi-lingual calls, online chats, or texts, provides on-demand counselling with mental health experts (for undergraduate students)
  • Call or Text 1-888-377-0002

 The Spiritual Care and Learning Centre (SCLC) 

  • The SCLC is a multicultural network of community leaders and groups working in collaboration to provide spiritual care services.
  • Location: The McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC), Room 212.
  • Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. 

Good 2 Talk Phone Line

  • Good2Talk offers free, confidential support to post-secondary students in Ontario 24/7
  • https://good2talk.ca/

SWC Grief Support Sharing Circle (in person): 

  • Thursday 2:30 – 4:00pm, on September 7th, October 5th, November 2nd, and November 30th 
 Life Events,  Mental Health & Mental Illness